e e t t h e V i n t n e r s
u s t a s o u r w i n e s t e l l a u n i q u e s t o r y o f p l a c e a n d c h a r a c t e r i n e v e r y g l a s s , o u r t e a m o f v i n t n e r s e a c h h a v e t h e i r o w n s t o r y t o t e l l o f h o w t h e y g o t i n t o t h e w i n e b u s i n e s s , w h a t k e e p s t h e m i n i t , a n d w h y t h e y l o v e o u r c o o l - c l i m a t e E l g i n v a l l e y .
Elgin Vintners founding partner Dr Max Hahn is a fount of knowledge on the history of the Elgin Valley and the Elgin Orchards farm that sparked his interest in owning an apple farm “one day”.
Now living in what is believed to be one of the oldest houses in the valley, the tollhouse at the bridge over the Palmiet River that runs through the valley, he knows the stories of the farm’s original owner Edward Syfret, neighbour Jack Green (and the foefie slide, or rope-and-pulley system used to transport apples over the river to his packshed), and the Denniston family who offered recuperation in the Ridgelands manor house on the farm for injured troops returning from World War II.
Our Story
r M a x H h n
Those families are remembered in the names of the guest bedrooms in the stately manor house that is now home to Elgin Vintners, luxury accommodation for visitors and a scenic venue for special events.
Max’s father was one of the injured troops nursed to wellness at Ridgelands and became friends with the Denniston family – many visits to Elgin Orchards and the Ridgelands manor house sparking the young Max’s dream of one day retiring to an apple farm in the area.
But, he says, “I never dreamed I would own THIS farm”.
That opportunity came about many years later in 2001, after a science degree in geology and chemistry, a degree in medicine, and a long career in business. Through a combination of fate, the right timing and the right price – and confidence from knowing the history and people of the farm, he acquired Elgin Orchards and its business of farming and packing apples and pears in 2001.
For many, there is a romance about growing vines and making wine. For Dr Hahn, the diversifying into grapes was a business decision prompted by a downturn in the apple industry, increasing signals of global warming, and expert views that the cool climate and unique terroir of the Elgin valley had the potential to make excellent wines.
For James Rawbone-Viljoen, the excitement of the wine business is about personal interaction with wine lovers and growing Elgin Vintners’ global family of loyal followers.
“I often say that, for me, growing apples and pears is a very scientific process, as it is with grapes, but once you’ve grown that apple or pear, packed it and sent if off the farm, you have nothing more to do with it.”
Our Story
a m e s R a b o e - V i l j o e n
“The real attraction for me, with grapes and with wine, is having that personal interaction with the consumer. To sit across the table and share a glass of wine, a product that I love, with people and see their satisfaction in enjoying your product – that’s what I get a kick out of.”
Not content with simply growing grapes to harvest, James’s passion is for the making and the selling of the wine, opening up new markets for Elgin Vintners through personalised wine tasting experiences and giving the brand a face and a personality.
“Through private tastings and personal experiences, we’ve developed a strong following of people who we have touched and have an appreciation for what we do, and we appreciate their loyalty.”
James’s Elgin roots run deep – he grew up in Elgin Valley, on Oak Valley, the farm owned by his family for more than a century.
His career took him on other paths, though, until he decided to try his hand at apple- and pear-farming in the early 1990s and then, as many others did, diversified into grape and wine production, on Blauwkrans and Helderfontein and became a founding partner in Elgin Vintners.
“Elgin had long been known for its potential as a premium wine-producing area, due to its cool climate, altitude and abundant water,” he says
While partner Dr Max Hahn has “more of an international palate”, he says, “I can’t find a wine in the world that’s better than our Elgin wine.”
“Local is lekker (great) for me and local is Elgin. I struggle to find the same quality anywhere as that produced in our valley.”
He is optimistic that Elgin Vintners is on a solid footing to continue making premium wines and has the stage to showcase what this unique appellation is capable of.
On a lighter note, he says, “when you have a bad day at the office, you could come home and eat an apple and that’s great. But compared to opening a bottle of your wine? That’s completely different!”
Gus got his first job in the wine industry in 1989, working at a wine shop on Oxford High Street for the well-known retailer Oddbins Wine Merchants. A year later, at just 20 years old, he was promoted to oversee the company’s first foray into the fine wine market, managing two branches in Farringdon Street and Notting Hill Gate in London.
By 1993, he had made his way to Beaune, a town in Burgundy, France, where he immediately fell in love with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and the region’s deep-rooted culture of wine and gastronomy. He famously resigned by fax from a cellar behind L’Église Notre-Dame at an unearthly hour of the morning. Gus then went on to study viticulture and oenology in Beaune while working for Maison Champy, the oldest négociant house in Burgundy.
Our Story
a m e s R a b o e - V i l j o e n
Once qualified, he managed a small domaine based in Beaune with Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte de Nuits and Premier Cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune. He began converting the vineyards to organic farming at a time when few others were doing so. During this period, from 2000 to 2006, he also spent four months each year making wine in the Helderberg region of Stellenbosch, South Africa. In late 2006, Gus decided to move to South Africa permanently, taking a farm management position in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. He went on to spend a total of six years farming and making wine there, while also spending several years in the Helderberg region with a fifth-generation Afrikaans grape and wine producer.
As early as 2004, Gus had the opportunity to make Pinot Noir from vineyards in Elgin. He had already identified the region as having the best terroir and climate for the variety. In September 2022, he was invited to join Elgin Vintners—a challenge he gladly accepted. He made his first wines there in 2023. Three vintages in, Gus has completely transformed the culture and production at Elgin Vintners, while staying true to their commitment to site-driven wines. He focuses on single-cultivar, premium-quality wines that reflect lower alcohol levels, fruit purity, sustainable practices, and a stronger international, carbon-conscious footprint.
Throughout his career, Gus has maintained a commitment to both innovation and sustainability. From pioneering organic viticulture in Burgundy to championing Pinot Noir in Elgin, his work reflects a deep understanding of terroir and climate. His experience across prestigious wine regions in both France and South Africa has shaped a winemaking philosophy grounded in quality, authenticity, and environmental responsibility—a legacy now embedded in the ongoing evolution of Elgin Vintners.
crafts people
e u K y P o p l e
Dr Max Hahn
Founder & Owner
James Rawbone-Viljoen
Co-Founder & Owner
Gus Dale
Senior Winemaker & Business Manager
sustainability
i n d f u l n s s o f t h e E n v i r e t
As part of the agricultural industry, we fully depend on our surrounding, just as it depends on us. That’s why we grow our produce organically and sustainably. Over the past decades the carbon footprint of the winery has been positive, which is something we’re really proud of.
As part of the agricultural industry, we fully depend on our surrounding, just as it depends on us. That’s why we grow our produce organically and sustainably. Over the past decades the carbon footprint of the winery has been positive, which is something we’re really proud of.
